Water color paint set



' Aug. 28, 1951 E. D. DAVIS 2,565,912 WATER COLOR PAINT SET Filed Nov.25, 1949 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 II II II II 1/ illi/71727200011 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

WATER COLOR PAINT SET INVENTOR.

QWMJQ BY r i ATTO-RNEYS;

Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to water color painting and has particularreference to novel apparatus comprising an improved water color paintset.

Conventional water color paint sets, or paint boxes are disadvantageousin several respects, particularly for use by children. The presentpractice is to put up the paints in cakes which fit into small pans on ashelf in the paint box. The lid of the box is generally divided intosections or panels in which the paints may be mixed. No provision ismade for drainage of excess water from the pans, giving rise to thedanger of undesirable mixing of paints from adjacent cakes, as well asthe danger of spillage onto the work table. The mixing panels aregenerally quite shallowso that, here again, the danger of spillage ispresent.

One of the objects of my invention is, therefore, to provide anovelwater color paint set having means for drainage of excess liquids.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel water color paintset in which a water container is made a part of the unitary assembly.

A further object of my invention is to provide a water color paint setwhich may be safely used by even small children, without danger ofspillage of water and/or paints.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel Water colorpaint set which is simple in construction and adapted to be manufacturedon a quantity basis.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will beapparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that a preferredembodiment of my invention includes a circular palette, generallydesignated at In, which is supported by a water vessel l I.

The palette l may be of molded composition, preferably of plasticalthough other materials would be satisfactory. A number of cup-shapedwells [2 integral with the annular outer portion or shelf l3 of thepalette are disposed in a circle about the circular inner portion of thepalette. As shown in Figure 4, thewells may be connected together bymeans of webs I4 to insure ease of molding and to provide greaterstrength to the article. Conventional water color paints (not shown) areinserted in the wells l2, and may be either the hard, dry cake typewhich gradually becomes adhesive to the container or well when wetted inuse, or the semi-moist type which is put into the container or well inpaste form and dries therein.

Means are provided, to prevent accidental intermixing of the paints inadjacent wells and, as shown inthe drawings, this may. include theraised ribs [5, one of which is disposed between each pair of adjacentwells. I2.

The circular inner portion of thepalette I0 provides paint-mixing meanswhich may include the mixingtrays [6. This inner portion is integrallyconnected tothe annular shelf l3 by means of spaced ribs l1, describedmore fully below. i

As shown in the drawings, andparticularly in Figure 3, anannular,downwardly-directed flange I8 is provided on the inner edge I9 of theshelf l3. The above-mentioned ribs I1 are integral with this flange 18and extend downwardly therefrom and thence. laterally to merge ,with thecircular central portion of the palette.

The outer diameter of the flange l8 is only slightly less than the innerdiameter of the water vessel I I, so that the inner portion of thepalette may be nested within the vessel, the palette bein supported bythe rim 20 of the vessel II on the annular se'at 2| which is defined bythe flange l8 and by a circle tangent to the wells [2. The water vesselIl may be of conventional shape, but is preferably slightly tapered asshown, and provided with a flanged base 22 as a safeguard againsttipping.

It is to be understood that the inner portion of the palette, whichprovides the mixing trays I6, is depressed with respect to the shelf [3,so thatthe trays 16 may be contained inside the water vessel II andsubstantially below the rim thereof, as shown in Figure 2. The trays I6are separated by the central fin 23 and enclosed by the annular dike 24and dams or ramps 25. A substantially triangular aperture 26 is providedbetween the trays [6, the purpose of which will be described below.Means are provided whereby excess liquid may drain from the shelf l3,and as shown in the drawings, this may include the sloping dispositionof the shelf l3, the aperture 26 and the apertures 21 between the spacedribs [1. Any excess liquid will gravitate toward the center, thendownwardly through the apertures 26 and 21 into the water vessel ll. Asnoted above, the raised ribs I5 prevent accidental intermixing of paintsfrom adjacent wells I2, and further, the ribs [5 aid in channelingexcess water through the apertures 2B and 21.

The paints may be mixed in the trays I6 in the customary manner, thatis, by wetting the brush (through the aperture 26), taking up one of thedesired colors on the brush and depositing it on one of the trays: I6,cleaning the: brush in the water, and taking up other colors anddepositing them in the mixing tray in the same manner until the desiredmixture is obtained. As will be understood from the above description,anyggacciderrtal spillage of paint will drain into the water vessel I I,either through the aperture 26 orapertures 2'l. The aperture 26 issubstantially triangular; as shown, and is provided with a sharp apex26a, against which the brush may be withdrawn to squeeze the excesswaterstherefrom, as well as to compress thebristlesfinto a sharppoint.i'lhfi -brush .mayzbe given a broad, flatbrushing surface by drawing itagainst one of the straight sides of the aperture 26.

While the palette I is securely supported :by :the water vessel I l, asdescribed above, it is to be understood thattheassembly is notpermanent; the palette is easily iremovedlmerely by lifting it off thewater vessel when it is desiredtochange the water therein.Thecurvedsurf-aces 28 of the damslB, bestshown in Figure 3, permitthemixing trays IE to be cleane'd without removing the palette from thewater vessel,:however sincethe trays may be floodedzwith clear water.and then swept :clean by brushing the water over thedams and throughtheaperture 26. While I have shown and described a specific embodimentof my invention, I do not limit myself to the exactdetails of .theconstruction .set forth, and the invention embraces such changes,modifications and equivalents of the parts and their form-ation andarrangement :as come: within the purview of the appended claims. 7 l lelaim:

'1'. In a water color paint-set, the combination of: a =water vessel, apalette supported by said water vessel above the top-edge thereof, saidpalette having-an aperture thereinso. that a brush maybe insertedtherethroughinto the water vessel, end draihage channels I; on saidpalette whereby excess -liquid fiowingtherefrom will-drain into -saidwater-vessel.

2: In a water color paintiset, the :combination of: a :water yessel, apalettexsupported by. said water vessehabove the -top edge thereof,means on said "palette for holding a plurality, :of: #water color cakes,and separate: drainage channels on said palette from each of said meansandleading to s'aid yessel whereby excesssliquid willadrain into saidwatervessel.

3. -In eplvater: colorapaint .set, the combination of: a waterivessel-a-having Lannpperaperipheral edge, a-palette supported by..ssaid. ivatersvessel andextending inwardlyaover said. edge, means onsaid palette for. holding a plurality ofswater coloricakesgand a mixing.tray integralwith said palette and r forming. the centralportionsthereof over said water :vesselpand within the boundary of 'saidupper peripheral edge said. mixing itray having an aperatureithereinthrough which a brush mayibedipped into saidwater vessel.

4.:In a water .color. paint set,. =.the combination of: a water :vessel,apalette: supported by said WEEIJBI" vessel, means on said paletteforholding a plurality of water-color cakespamixingtray inwater vessel,said-palette including an outer portion and an inner portion, said outerportion comprising a shelf adapted to retain a plurality 'of individualpaint cakes, said shelf being disposed at an angle from the horizontalso that liquids thereon may gravitate toward said inner portion, saidinner portion including a horizon- .talinixing tray, and a plurality ofspaced ribs connecting said inner portion to said outer por- 'tiorntheapertures between said ribs providing passageways through which excesswater may drain from said shelf.

6. In a water color paint set, the combination of: a water vessel and apalette supported by said :water vessel, said palette including an outerportion and an inner portion, said outer portion comprising a shelfextending laterally outwardly of said water vessel and adapted to retaina plurality of individual paint cakes, said inner portion includinga'horizontal mixing tray, said mixing tray being depressed withrespectto said shelf so that said mixing tray nests within the watervessel, and said inner portion having an aperture therein through whicha brush maybe dipped into said water vessel.

7. .In a'water color paint set, a palette-adapted to be supported on awater vessel, said palette including an outer portion and an innerportion, said outer portion comprising a shelf adapted to retain aplurality of individual paint cakes, said shelf being disposed at anangle from the horizontal so that liquids thereon may gravitate towardsaid inner portion, said inner portion including a horizontal mixingtray having an aperature therein through which a brush may be dipped,and-a plurality of spaced ribs connecting said inner-portion to saidouter portion, the apertures between said ribs providing passagewaysthrough which excess water may drain from said shelf and said tray.

8. Ina water color paint set, the combination of: a water vessel, aflanged base integral with the water vessel, apalette supported bysaid'water vessel, said palette includingan outer portion and an innerportion, said outer portion comprising a shelf extending laterallyoutwardly of said water vessel and having a plurality of partitionedwells therein, each adapted to retain a paint cake therein, said shelfbeing disposed at an angle from the horizontal sov that liquids thereonmay gravitate toward said inner portion, said inner portion including ahorizontallmixing tray, said mixing tray being depressed with. respectto said shelf so that said mixing tray nests within the water vessel,and a plurality of spaced ribs connecting said inner portion tosaidouter portion, the apertures between said ribs' providingpassageways through'which excess water may drain into said water vessel.

9. In a water color paint set, the combination of: aiwater vessel, apalette supported'by said water vessel, said palette including anouter'portion and an inner portion, said outer portion comprising anannular shelf extending laterally outwardly of said water vessel andhaving a plur rality of partitioned "wells therein, an annular,

downwardly directed flange forming the inside edge of said outerportion, the outer surface of said flange cooperating with said wells todefine an annular seat on the underside of said shelf for the rim ofsaid water vessel, the inner portion of said palette including ahorizontal mixing tray which is depressed with respect to said shelf sothat said mixing tray may nest within the Water vessel, said mixing trayhaving an aperture therein through which a brush may be dipped into thewater vessel.

10. In a paint color set, a palette comprising an annular shelf havingan annular series of paint receiving depressions projecting therebelow,a downwardly extending annular flange extending from the inner edge ofthe annular shelf, a tray supported at the lower edge of the annularflange, the inner edge of the shelf adjacent the downwardly extendingannular flange forming a rim, the under surface of which provides asupporting surface for the support of the palette upon an annularsupporting-edge and the annular flange and the downwardly projectingpaint receiving depressions of the annular shelf defining a channeltherebetween whereby the palette is held from lateral movement whensupported by the annular rim.

11. In combination with a water container having an upstanding annularwall within which water may be confined, a point set including anannular shelf having paint receiving depressions formed therein, saidpaint receiving depressions extending downwardly from the bottomsurf-ace of the annular shelf, the inner edge of the annular shelfproviding a supporting rim upon which the shelf may be supported on theupper edge of the annular wall of the water container, a mixing trayextending downwardly from the annular shelf to a position Within theannular wall of the water container and below the upper edge thereof,means whereby the mixing tray is supported from the rim of the shelf,the latter said means and said paint receiving depressions of the trayforming together means to prevent lateral movement of the tray whensupported on the edge of the water container.

12. In combination with a water container having an upstanding annularwall within which water may be confined, a paint set including anannular shelf having paint receiving depressions formed therein, saidpaint receiving depressions extending downwardly from the bottom surfaceof the annular shelf, the inner edge of the annular shelf providing asupporting rim upon which the shelf may be supported on the upper edgeof the annular wall of the water container, a mixing tray extendingdownwardly from the annular shelf to a position within the annular wallof the water container and below the upper edge thereof, means wherebythe mixing tray is supported from the rim of the shelf, the latter saidmeans and said paint receiving depressions of the tray forming togethermeans to prevent lateral movement of the tray when supported on the edgeof the water container, and the mixing tray having an opening throughwhich a paint brush may be inserted into the water of the watercontainer.

13. In a water color paint set of the type adapted to be supported by anopen-top water vessel and having a shelf adapted to retain a pluralityof individual paint cakes, a horizontal mixing tray portion adapted tobe nested within the top portion of the water vessel, said mixing trayportion comprising a pair of mixing trays separated by a central fin andenclosed by an outer raised dike and a pair of upwardly inclined ramps,said ramps intersecting to form a sharp apex and to define, with theshelf, an aperture providing access to the interior of the water vessel.

EDWARD D. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 976,317 Triebling Nov. 22, 1910FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 462,243 Germany July 6, 1928 477,803Great Britain Jan. 6, 1938

